Our ʻOAKA team completed their first two weeks of Resilience Academies! These Academies allow youth the opportunity to develop leadership, teamwork and communication skills through hands-on activities led by our first responders. In addition, participants also receive training to support emergency points of distribution, create household emergency preparedness plans, and provide situational awareness reporting and active and compassionate listening in moments of crisis.
“The idea of Resilience Academies felt like a step in the right direction for us. It’s an opportunity to engage with ʻōpio beyond the classroom and deepen relationships with students who may not have participated in our Adulting 101 workshops during the regular school year.” - Amylia-Rae Gandolf, ʻOAKA Coordinator
So far, ʻOAKA has led Resilience Academies in both the Hilo and Puna district, and will soon engage youth in Honokaʻa and North Kohala.
“It was great watching the Vibrant Hawaiʻi Ambassadors share their First Aid and Hands-Only CPR knowledge with our next generation of community contributors. Resiliency starts with self preservation. As people become more aware of how to take care of themselves and their families during an emergency, families become more resilient, making our communities stronger. - Lance Uchida, retired Deputy Fire Chief and Vibrant Hawaiʻi Resilience Training Center Coordinator.
At its core, these Resilience Academies are intended to inspire the cultivation of resilience within our younger generation. Furthering the narrative that we each hold a piece that is part of something bigger, our Resilience Academies offer a valuable opportunity for young people to be included in these important topics, as well as embody impactful support during times of emergency.
If you would like to register for the North Kohala Academy, click HERE.
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